I used to think papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) referred to an involved dad who takes parental leave, takes his children to the park or shopping, and gives them baths.

People around you who feel that way probably aren’t interested in papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) in the first place. It means they’re women who don’t need to receive an allowance. Many women who receive offers have steady day jobs. On the other hand, I often see women who work in nightlife, are part-time workers, or are unemployed getting no offers at all.

Calling papa-katsu “being a hands-on dad” is perfectly fine, isn’t it? Someone who’s that out of touch with the times might actually be a good choice. Read the information carefully—it can be a good mental exercise, and there’s nothing wrong with being extremely cautious. All we know is that your profile says you’re a secretary in your 30s, so it seems unlikely that offers will come flooding in. For now, I think you should register and see whether any offers come your way, while thinking about how you’ll respond if they do. They say regret over not trying is greater than regret after trying.

I’ll read the club’s website carefully and consider whether to join and whether it’s right for me as a secretary. ☆ You’re a secretary, yet you don’t know the term papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan)… Do you even know what a secretary is? I have a question: Regardless of whether I join, I want to continue working at my current job for my future rather than relying solely on papa-katsu. There’s nothing wrong with thinking that way, right? ☆ How long do you think you’ll remain young? Apparently, only about half of women in their twenties receive an offer. The other half never receive one at all. You understand what that means without me having to spell it out, right?

First of all, papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) is a feminine noun, and generally speaking, it’s something women do. Men do it as well—I’ve even seen a transgender female member—but it’s extremely rare. In the past three years, I can only remember it happening twice. “You idiot, I’m not gay!” Sorry about that. I meant twice. “Ikumen” is the antonym of papa-katsu, in more ways than one. I expect it’ll be listed in the Kojien dictionary by fiscal 2025. As anyone from Shizuoka knows, there is no such thing as a noble or lowly profession. So even if I privately believe that women with regular day jobs are superior to women who do papa-katsu full-time, I would avoid saying so. I just saw a 64-year-old female member renew her membership the other day, so I hesitate to say this, but generally speaking, I don’t think papa-katsu women have very long careers. Not as short as those of figure skaters or table-tennis players, but perhaps more like baseball or soccer players. In other words, it’s not the kind of world where you work until retirement. (In that sense, Recruit employees may be similar.) There are people like Kazuyoshi Miura, of course, but generally they look toward a second career. In the first place, it may be safest not to treat it as a profession, but to enjoy the extra fulfillment it brings while working an amateur side activity. In that sense, your thinking is correct. But I won’t say that. I’d like to cling to my position as governor a little longer, and I don’t like the idea of having more day trips once the maglev opens（笑） Governor Taro

Only a very small minority of people engage in papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), so there’s nothing wrong with choosing a conventional life without relying on it. I don’t think there’s any need to deliberately enter or experience the world of papa-katsu. Being an involved dad and living a fulfilling life isn’t a bad option either… If you get hooked on papa-katsu, it can feel like an unbelievable world where two people keep giving each other such immense happiness—when even the greatest happiness in marriage doesn’t last forever. So there’s no need to rush into that hidden world just to experience its depths. There’s nothing wrong with gradually learning about different things in life and moving on to the next stage step by step. And even if you wait until the need arises, it won’t be too late. Perhaps it could be called a world where a man and woman who both feel the need for each other can continue to enjoy the highest form of happiness—without things growing cold, as they sometimes do in a love marriage.

While there may be no one right way to live, I think it’s nonsensical to seek other people’s approval for the way you choose to live. Also, for modern people not to know the term “papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan)” seems remarkably out of touch with the world. I know it’s none of my business, but being over 30 and still like that—is everything really okay? Please take good care of yourself.